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Alabastrite | Gemstones | Pearl |
Bone China | Gypsum | Plumb |
Cubic Zirconia | Gold | Porcelain |
Diamond | Hong Tze | Sterling Silver |
Dolomite | Jade Porcelain | Stoneware |
Frosted Acrylic | Patchwork | |
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Alabastrite
Alabastrite is our Gift Shop's product line name for
polyresin items. Alabastrite is a stone-based material which can be intricately
molded producing great detail, and will allow paint to adhere. These items
may be cleaned by dusting, however, they should not be washed with water
as they are painted with water soluble paints.
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Bone China
White clay with bone ash added. Bone ash content must
be at least 25% by U. S. guidelines. Fired at 1800 degrees. The translucent
material is finished with a glaze or underglaze (matte). Lighter, stronger,
more expensive than porcelain.
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Cubic Zircon
The most successful simulated diamond. Properties such
as refraction, hardness, and specific gravity are remarkably similar to
diamonds. Example: 27432. Cubic zirconia are very hard to distinguish
from diamonds; sometimes a jewelers loop will be needed to see the difference.
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Diamond
Extremely hard, highly refractive colorless or white
crystalline of carbon. Diamonds, like all gemstones, are judged in terms
of Carats, or weight (different from Karats, as in gold purity).
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Dolomite
A magnesia-rich, sedimentary rock
resembling limestone, dolomite is either gray, pink or white in color.
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Frosted Acrylic
Acrylic items are given the French Lilac process, (used
on glass), to achieve the distinctive frosted look. Example: 27205. The
drama of frosted glass without the weight.
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Gold
The ultimate precious metal. Virtually indestructible,
amazingly malleable, doesn't rust or tarnish. Graded by purity; in the
U.S. a scale of 24 is used, so 24 Karats (24K) is 100% pure. 18K is 18
parts gold and 6 parts alloy (other metals), and so on. 10K is the
legal minimum for Karat-graded gold. The word "Plumb" indicates the exact purity
of the piece.
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Gemstones
Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and amethysts, often treasured
as birthstones, fall under the category of gemstones. (Birthstones are
listed in the back of your WOP catalog.) Gemstones are priced and graded
by Carat weight.
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Gypsum
Gypsum is a white mineral which is usually used to make
Plaster of Paris and when mixed with white Portland Cement it creates
a durable and strong product.
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Hong Tze
To closely emulate a special stone found in China which
is known for its deep red color, these items are created using an alabastrite
polyresin. Hong Tze pieces are highly polished, further bringing out the
intense, deep red color.
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Jade Porcelain
Jade porcelain is a type of porcelain made with a finer
clay. Usually no glaze or only a colorless glaze will be applied at the
final firing to show off the very smooth surface and to preserve the translucency.
Example: 27112. Jade Porcelain is used for night lights because of its
high degree of translucency when lit.
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Pearl
A smooth, lustrous, variously-colored deposit formed
around a grain of sand in the shell of a certain mollusk. Pearls may be
formed naturally or "cultured" through an artificial implanting process.
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Porcelain
Fine ground white clay, molded and fired in an oven for
eight hours at 1200 degrees. Finished with a glazed, underglazed, or "bisque"
finish. Glazing produces a high gloss; underglaze produces a matte finish.
Bisque is a matte finish without glaze. After finishing, the item is "cooked"
for six hours at 800 degrees.
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Patchwork Items
Unique fabric or paper prints are applied to the surface
of porcelain, dolomite or polyresin items. After application, 12 layers
of lacquer are added and the item is hand polished to a high gloss between
each layer.
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Sterling Silver
To qualify as "sterling" a given piece must be composed
of a least 92.5% pure silver.
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Stoneware
White clay with fine ground stone. Working with
stoneware demands great expertise, and is in fact becoming a lost art.
Stoneware is safe to use in microwave and conventional ovens.
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Call Toll free telephone/fax: 888-700-8528 |
Chris Dixon
Studios |
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